The congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Utica believes that a campaign of inclusion in America is a first step in mending our shard American Tapestry. Where the social fabric that binds us has been torn by any injustice or indignity, we seek to acknowledge it and mend it by weaving fairness, justice, and respect for people of every identity into our mosaic.

UUU Statement on Democracy

August 2024
Human Rights, which affirm the worth, dignity and rights of all people from every background, must be the foundation on which we build by weaving fairness, justice, and respect for people of every identity, into every part of our shared social fabric. Through this practice, we aspire to create “Beloved Community” both within UUU and our wider society.

Therefore, be it resolved:

• We celebrate pluralism by embracing diversity in all its forms – different ethnicities, cultures, religions, and sexual and gender identities that make up the fabric of American society, supporting policies that promote inclusion, and ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard and valued. (This involves the rejection of any attempts to promote superior or preferred national religion, model for family structure, preferred ethnicity in immigration, etc.).
• We call for an understanding of justice based not only on the value of equality, but also the consideration of equity – treating everyone justly according to the specific needs of each community, requiring different approaches in application. Both values are needed for justice to be truly fair and moral in each situation. (This involves continued efforts to adjudicate past injustices by eliminating forms of systemic inequality and by providing opportunities that will help equalize differences and mend places in which the social fabric has been torn or woven together unevenly).
• We acknowledge the interdependent web of life and will act to limit the harmful consequences of climate change, especially the climate catastrophes (in near and long term) that disproportionally impact the poor, disadvantaged, elderly, women, and children.